BASF bought selected Bayer agricultural businesses and assets in two related transactions tied to Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto. The deal covered herbicides and herbicide-tolerance technology, selected field-crop and vegetable-seed businesses, seed treatments, research programs, and the xarvio digital farming platform—not Bayer’s entire Crop Science division.
What did BASF acquire from Bayer?
The assets moved in two packages. The first, announced in October 2017, centered on glufosinate-ammonium herbicides, LibertyLink technology, and selected field-crop seeds and related research. A second package, announced in April 2018, added vegetable seeds, seed treatments, hybrid-wheat research, certain European herbicides, digital farming activities, and selected research projects.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
BASF Handbook on Basics of Coating Technology | $247.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
True Essence Linalool Premium Aroma Molecule, 500 Grams | $75.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Package | What it included | Price and sales figures at announcement | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| First package | Global glufosinate-ammonium business; LibertyLink herbicide-tolerance technology; selected cotton, canola, and soybean seed businesses; related traits, research, and breeding capabilities. | Bayer announced a base purchase price of €5.9 billion, excluding net working capital and subject to customary closing adjustments. Bayer said the assets had approximately €1.3 billion in 2016 net sales. In April 2018, Bayer reported €1.5 billion in 2017 sales for the first-package businesses. | The main transactions closed August 1, 2018. |
| Additional package | Global vegetable-seed business; certain seed treatments; wheat-hybrid research platform; certain European glyphosate-based herbicides used predominantly for industrial applications; digital farming activities; three research projects involving total herbicides. | Bayer announced a price of up to €1.7 billion, before tax and subject to customary closing adjustments. Bayer said the businesses had €745 million in 2017 sales. | Most assets closed with the main transactions on August 1, 2018; the vegetable-seed business closed separately on August 16, 2018. |
Sources: BASF’s August 2018 closing announcement, Bayer’s October 2017 announcement, and Bayer’s April 2018 announcement.
What was in the first package?
Glufosinate herbicides and LibertyLink
BASF acquired Bayer’s global glufosinate-ammonium herbicide business, sold under the Liberty, Basta, and Finale trademarks, along with LibertyLink herbicide-tolerance technology. BASF’s 2018 annual report says the acquisition included glufosinate production and formulation sites in Germany, the United States, and Canada. These are agricultural business assets and legacy brands; the transaction announcements do not establish their current ownership or availability.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Selected field-crop seeds and related capabilities
The field-crop businesses included global cotton seed excluding India and South Africa, North American and European canola seed businesses, and the soybean seed business. Related traits, intellectual property, facilities, research, and breeding capabilities were also part of the package. Bayer said more than 1,800 employees transferred in connection with this agreement. The geographic exclusions are important: BASF did not acquire every Bayer seed operation in every market.
What was added in the 2018 package?
Vegetable seeds and wheat-hybrid research
The global vegetable-seed business operated mainly under the Nunhems trademark. BASF’s 2018 annual report described it as covering 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties, with more than 100 breeding programs in over 15 cultures. That package also included a research platform for wheat hybrids.
Seed treatments, herbicides, and research projects
The additional assets included a range of seed-treatment products; certain European glyphosate-based herbicides used predominantly for industrial applications; and three research projects in total, or non-selective, herbicides and nematicide seed treatments. The transactions transferred selected products and projects, not an entire Bayer herbicide or crop-protection portfolio.
Digital farming
BASF acquired Bayer’s digital farming activities, including the xarvio platform. Bayer’s April 2018 announcement said Bayer would receive a back license for certain digital farming applications, so the transaction did not mean every related application or right transferred exclusively to BASF.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #2
- Premium Aroma Molecule: Linalool, CAS: 78-70-6 is a highly sought-after synthetic fragrance ingredient known for its warm, woody, and velvety scent profile
- Professional Grade Quality: True Essence delivers laboratory-grade purity suitable for perfumery, cosmetic formulation, and fragrance creation applications
- Generous Quantity: Each package contains 500 grams (approximately 17.6 ounces) of Iso E Super, providing ample supply for multiple projects and formulations
- Versatile Application: Ideal for creating custom perfumes, colognes, room sprays, and scented products with its subtle cedarwood-like aroma and skin-feel enhancing properties
- Long-Lasting Performance: Known for its excellent tenacity and ability to enhance other fragrance notes while providing depth and longevity to scent compositions
Why did Bayer sell these businesses?
The divestitures were regulatory remedies connected to Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto. Bayer said the additional sale implemented undertakings made to the European Commission and other regulatory authorities; its first-package announcement said it was addressing potential regulatory concerns. Bayer also said the proceeds would partially refinance its Monsanto acquisition. These were Bayer’s stated reasons, not an independent assessment of the remedies’ effects on competition.
How much did BASF pay?
The price depends on which stage and stated basis is being discussed. Bayer announced the first package at a €5.9 billion base price and the additional package at up to €1.7 billion. At the August 2018 closing, BASF described the combined all-cash purchase price as €7.6 billion, subject to certain closing adjustments. BASF’s 2018 annual report later stated a €7.4 billion purchase price for the Bayer businesses, also potentially subject to further adjustments. Those are differently described transaction figures, not interchangeable measures.
BASF reported that about 4,500 employees joined the company through the acquisition. Bayer later reported about €2.2 billion in sales volume for the divested Crop Science businesses in 2018 when final completion enabled Monsanto integration. That figure refers to a different reporting period and description than the package-specific sales figures announced earlier. BASF’s audited report separately lists €7.431 billion in payments for all of its 2018 acquisitions; that is not a Bayer-only payment amount.
Sources for closing, annual-report, and later sales figures: BASF’s closing announcement, BASF’s 2018 annual report, and Bayer’s Monsanto completion announcement.
Quick Recap
What the deal did not include
- It was not a purchase of Bayer itself or of Bayer’s entire Crop Science division.
- The field-crop seed assets were selected businesses, with explicit exclusions for cotton seed in India and South Africa.
- The announced transfer of selected brands, products, and research assets does not establish who owns or sells them today.
- The sales figures in the announcements refer to different periods and package descriptions; they should not be added or compared as though they were measured on one basis.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
